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Solid Sound is back! Two years ago we enjoyed a whole day of arts and music in the expansive Mass MOCA complex. There was endless art, from artists making art during the fest, to a comedy show with John Hodgman and other Daily Show cast members, and it all capped off with a concert by WILCO. Here is what I wrote about the 2011 Solid Sound Festival.

I like the fact that WILCO took a year’s break so now the 2013 version of this big festival comes back stronger and more energized than ever. I love that it takes place in the cavernous Mass MOCA complex, with so many different venues and places for events to take place. The way the vendors were positioned last time made it like a street full of food, beer and snacks. The variety was amazing, menus you just never see at a festival. So long hotdogs and fried dough, hello cool food trucks from Seattle!

This year, by now, you can only buy a weekend ticket, which at $149 gives you three days of musical entertainment, arts immersion and WILCO. The line-up for Saturday morning includes the comedy cabaret with John Hodgman, Reggie Watts, Al Madrigal and Jen Kirkman at 12 noon and again at 4 pm. The music plays all day, among the highlights are Yo la Tengo playing from 4-5 pm and Neko Case from 7:15-8:30 pm. WILCO plays again Saturday from 9-11:30 pm.

Case and WILCO’s shows take place at Joe’s Field, a big outdoor stage that is set up starting with a hill and looking down. You can park your blanket and chairs up on the hill, and get a fantastic view of the musicians. In 2011, a big dramatic rain storm pelted everyone for about 3o minutes before the concert began. Nobody minded, everyone managed to stay dry, and when the rain stopped and the sun came out, it was worth the wait. Just like this year, after a one-year hiatus, Solid Sound Festival 2013 will be worth the wait.

Max Hartshorne has been the editor of the GoNOMAD.com travel website since 2002. Over the past decade, he has had the privilege of working with writers and publishing travel articles about nearly every country in the world.
He has also been a consistent world traveler, writing hundreds of his own travel stories and posting daily blogs from the 10 or more yearly international trips he takes around the world.